55 Colleges In 27 States Under Investigation For Handling Of Sex Assault Complaints

For the first time, the U.S. Department of Education has released a list of all the higher education institutions under investigation for possible violations in the handling of sexual violence and harassment complaints.

The University of Connecticut, Harvard College, the University of Michigan and the University of Virginia are among the 55 institutions on the list.

The department's Office of Civil Rights is investigating the colleges and universities for violations of Title lX, which prohibits gender discrimination and demands that students are not denied educational opportunities because of gender.

In the past, federal officials have confirmed individual Title IX investigations, but the list released Thursday is the first comprehensive look at which campuses are under review.

Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon said: "We are making this list available in an effort to bring more transparency to our enforcement work and to foster better public awareness of civil rights. We hope this increased transparency will spur community dialogue about this important issue."

The highly publicized Title IX complaint against UConn was filed in October by seven students and former students, who charged that the university mishandled their cases when they reported that they were sexually assaulted or harassed. The women also say UConn did not provide them with needed services, treated them with indifference and failed to ensure that they would be able to continue their studies. Students around the country have filed similar complaints.

Lhamon said that a school's appearance on the list "in no way indicates at this stage that the college or university is violating or has violated the law." The entire list is available on the U.S. Department of Education website at http://www.ed.gov/news.

UConn spokeswoman Stephanie Reitz said, "We welcome the publication of the list of schools as part of the White House recommendation for increased transparency in the [Office of Civil Rights] process. The listing shows clearly that the issue of sexual assault on campus is a national one."

Reitz said the investigation involving UConn has been a "public matter for several months" and the university is "cooperating fully with [Office of Civil Rights] officials."

The announcement comes in a week when policymakers in both Washington and Hartford took steps to address this issue. In a report released Tuesday, a White House task force proposed a series of recommendations aimed to better protect students from sexual assault on college campuses, including a call for more transparency in the federal government's enforcement actions.

In addition, the federal education department released new "guidance" that clarifies the responsibilities of colleges, universities and schools for addressing sexual violence.

Also this week, the Connecticut Senate gave final legislative approval to a sweeping bill that institutes new policies on college campuses to help victims of sexual assault. The measure also requires institutions to establish trained sexual assault response teams on campuses and collaborate with community-based sexual assault clinics, among other tactics. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is reviewing the legislation.

Sexual assault prevention advocates have praised the state's action and the White House task force recommendations, as well as the federal officials' release of the list of schools under investigation.

Laura Cordes, executive director of the Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services, said, "Fifty-five colleges in 27 states underscores the breadth and depth of the problem of sexual assault at both public and private universities and colleges across the country."

She said it also "illustrates the tremendous strength of the student survivors who are stepping forward to secure their rights and the safety of students for what I believe will be generations to come."

Fatima Goss Graves of the National Women's Law Center in Washington, D.C. said the federal education department's decision to go public with the list "allows students and parents everywhere to know which schools are under investigation and track the resolution process."

She said this "critical step puts a spotlight on an issue that's been hidden too long."

Lara Kaufmannn, senior counsel and director of education policy for the National Women's Law Center, said that in the past, there was "very little transparency. The public didn't know whether schools were under investigation."

She added: "I think it will create a little more accountability for schools. They are not going to want to be on that list."

UConn was the only Connecticut school on the list released Thursday, but Yale also faced a Title IX investigation several years ago. A statement from Yale issued in June 2012 said that the Office of Civil Rights closed its probe with a "voluntary agreement" with Yale and "without any finding of non-compliance by Yale."

"We are pleased as well with the terms of our voluntary agreement," Yale's 2012 statement said. "Over the past two years, the university has committed extensive resources toward improving its policies, procedures, practices and services to provide an environment in which all students feel safe and well supported, and protected from sexual misconduct."

According to a report by Bloomberg News, Tufts University in Medford, Mass., risks losing government funds after it broke an agreement with the Education Department to resolve issues related to Title IX. Tufts has said it took steps to improve its response and that it believes it is in compliance with the standards, the Bloomberg report said.